News Summary
In a significant archaeological find, the nearly intact foundation of the Williamsburg Bray School has been discovered in Williamsburg, Virginia. This crucial educational institution for Black children operated between 1760 and 1774. Artifacts such as slate pencil fragments, jewelry, and pottery shards were unearthed, shedding light on the lives of its students. The school later served as a dormitory for women attending college in the 1920s. Ongoing efforts aim to exhibit the findings, enhancing our understanding of early Black education and its legacy.
Williamsburg, Virginia – Archaeologists have made a significant discovery in Williamsburg, uncovering the nearly intact foundation of the Williamsburg Bray School, a crucial educational institution for Black children in the 1700s. This groundbreaking find occurred during a renovation project at Gates Hall at the College of William & Mary.
The excavation has revealed a cellar filled with centuries-old artifacts that provide a glimpse into the daily lives of those who attended the school. Among the items unearthed are fragments of slate pencils, buttons, jewelry, and broken pottery shards, all dating back to the school’s operation between 1760 and 1774.
The Williamsburg Bray School was notable for educating primarily enslaved children aged three to ten, often relying on a religious framework that sought to rationalize the institution of slavery while simultaneously imparting literacy skills to its students. This pedagogical approach reflected the complex and often contradictory nature of education for Black children during that era.
In a historical turn, the Bray School later served as a dormitory for some of the first women to attend college in the United States from 1924 to 1930. This aspect of its history underscores the institution’s evolving role in education over the centuries.
Records suggest that under the leadership of head educator Ann Wager, the school educated several hundred students throughout its years of operation. Recognized as one of the oldest surviving structures in the country dedicated to the education of Black children prior to the American Revolution, the Bray School holds substantial historical significance.
Efforts to locate the exact site of the Bray School commenced in 2020, utilizing a scientific method known as dendrochronology, which analyzes tree rings in wooden materials. Since its establishment, the schoolhouse has been moved multiple times and has undergone various restoration efforts conducted by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
The recent excavation has yielded artifacts spanning from the 18th century to the early 20th century, further illuminating aspects of life during that time period. Notably, among the relics discovered was a piece of glass depicting Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, likely used for decoration when the building functioned as a dormitory.
Plans are underway at William & Mary to exhibit some of the artifacts in Gates Hall and to lend additional items to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s new archaeology center. These efforts are intended to enhance the understanding of early Black education and its complexities.
As the significance of this discovery unfolds, public programming and events relating to the Bray School are planned for 2025 and beyond, with aspirations to engage descendants of former students and deepen the community’s connection to this vital facet of educational history. The findings have the potential to reshape the narrative surrounding Black education and its enduring legacy.
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Additional Resources
- Coastal Virginia Magazine: Discovering the Bray School
- Popular Mechanics: Historic Black School Discovery in Virginia
- Smithsonian Magazine: Archaeologists Unearth Artifacts from One of the Nation’s Oldest Schools for Black Children
- New York Times: The Bray School in Virginia
- Artnet News: William & Mary Early School for Black Students
- Wikipedia: Williamsburg Bray School
- Google Search: Bray School Virginia
- Google Scholar: Bray School Black education
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Williamsburg Bray School
- Google News: Bray School Virginia
